State agency announces four more cases of West Nile virus

Tuesday

Sep 4, 2018 at 5:27 PMSep 4, 2018 at 5:27 PM

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) announced four more human cases of West Nile virus (WNV) in the state this year.

On Tuesday, the state agency released a statement that a man in his 40s from Middlesex County is hospitalized due to his illness; a man in his 60s from Bristol County is hospitalized due to his illness; a woman in her 20s from Essex County was hospitalized during her illness; and a woman in her 80s from Suffolk County was hospitalized during her illness.

This brings the total number of cases in Massachusetts this year to nine.

A horse from Hampshire County and a llama from Worcester County have also been diagnosed with the West Nile virus this year.

“The risk for additional people to get infected with WNV is ongoing,” said Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel. “It is extremely important for people to take steps to avoid mosquito bites including using repellents, wearing clothing to reduce exposed skin, dumping standing water, and moving indoors when mosquitoes are present.”

The state often see the most number of human cases of the virus in September, according to the state Epidemiologist Dr. Catherine Brown.

In 2017, there were six human cases of West Nile virus infection identified in Massachusetts.